Jantjie, who stood alongside world leaders, including President Obama, as they eulogized Mandela, was admitted to a mental institution after his signing snafu.

He told us by phone, “I was in hospital but I am positively out now, I feel better than ever.” In an effort to explain the incident, he continued, “On that day I was sick, due to the hours that I had been working, 14 hours interpreting.”

But he said he was also motivated to help others with disabilities in South Africa. He told us, “It was a blessing in disguise. Sign language was not recognized in my country, and now it is. The president has introduced sign language as an official language. Why should I be worried about it or punish myself? I did not hear any complaints from the world leaders, I feel very happy, because it was a chance to help people with disabilities, I brought a change in my country.”

Max Bluvband, CEO of LiveLens, which allows users to stream live video, said they had signed him because, “He’s the guy that did the worst live show ever. But at the end of the day, he is a good guy.”